Chapter 859 — Soaring to the Azure Clouds
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
Xing'an walked toward Shen Mu, the box clattering along behind him; it came to Shen Mu's feet, circled him several times, and rubbed against his leg.
"Xing'an. " Shen Mu stroked the box, and only then greeted him with due courtesy, saying with a smile, "Every time you appear, you look different.
Whose flesh is this now? " "This is the true me," Xing'an said, returning the greeting, his face grave.
"This is how I looked as a youth. " Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly. He probed, "The Creation divine art—remaking a body? Yet in the past you searched everywhere for the bodies of others, cutting the strongest parts from powerhouses of accomplishment and piecing together a body—and piecing together a primordial spirit as well.
Your remaking a body I can just understand, but how did you remake your primordial spirit?
" "That is precisely why I have come to see you," the youthful Xing'an said bleakly.
"I no longer know whether the me of now is still me. In the past, to prolong my own life and to explore divine arts and dharma, I studied my own body and primordial spirit to their utmost, then broke them apart and seized the bodies and primordial spirits of others.
But now that the Jingping Reforms have come this far, I find that the longer I continue this way, the greater the harm; only by returning to my true self might I advance further.
Only, I can no longer find my own soul, nor find the true me; even if I restore my youthful body, it is not the true me.
I have fallen into terror.
" "If you had known today would come, why did you act as you did then?
" Shen Mu said with a cold laugh. "You want me to gather your soul for you and reshape your spirit? Forgive me, but I cannot obey.
" Suddenly the box opened of its own accord.
Shen Mu's gaze fell upon what lay inside, and his heart skipped. The youthful Xing'an's eyes too fell upon the box; there was reluctance in them, but still he said resolutely, "Is this price enough to make you act? " Shen Mu steadied himself, closed the box, and said in a low voice, "Enough! "